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A deadly stampede at Srikakulam’s Venkateswara Temple kills nine, including two children. PM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh compensation for families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Local authorities rush to provide relief and support.
PM Modi Announces Compensation
New Delhi: Nine people, including two children, died in a massive stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday, the seventh day of the incident. The tragedy plunged the entire region into grief and sorrow.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh from the PMNRF (Prime Minister's National Relief Fund) to the families of those who died. An ex-gratia amount of ₹50,000 was also announced for the injured.
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PM Modi tweeted that his heart was saddened by the tragic incident and he prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Following the incident, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed local officials and public representatives to immediately reach the temple site and oversee relief and rescue operations. Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh also spoke to officials and local leaders and ordered them to provide immediate assistance to the affected people.
The temple witnessed a larger than usual crowd on Saturday, as the day coincided with Ekadashi. The stampede began with jostling among women trying to get ahead in the queue.
Although barricades and railings were in place to manage the crowd, the structures collapsed due to the increasing pressure. Several people fell, leading to panic and the stampede turned fatal.
Stampede in Srikakulam
Nine people died at the scene and several others were injured. The deceased included two children. The local administration set up relief camps, admitted the injured to hospitals, and initiated the process of providing immediate assistance to the families.
The local administration and police took immediate steps to control the situation. Special teams were deployed for rescue and relief operations, and crowd management measures were implemented at the temple complex.
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This incident has highlighted the critical need for enhanced safety measures during periods of heavy crowds at temples and religious sites. In the future, emphasis can be placed on better crowd control measures, emergency routes, and the deployment of sufficient security personnel.
